Government persists with recycled water taste tests ...

... despite them being completely useless.

Excerpt from the Adelaide Advertiser:

Recycled effluent a winner

26 October 2007

Recycled effluent from Singapore tastes better than rainwater from Canberra and desalinated water from Perth, says one of the state's expert wine connoisseurs.

Hyatt Regency Adelaide purchasing manager Louise Radman has taste tested the three types of water as part of a National Water Commission survey.

The Federal Government's independent water body released samples of recycled water, desalinated water and rainwater for the taste test, as all are options being considered for Australian water supplies.

Ms Radman said the clean, neutral taste of the recycled effluent was much better than the mineral taste of rainwater.

She said desalinated water tasted the worst of the three. "The desalinated water was horrible, it was salty and rubbery."

"The rainwater had earthy characteristics and a slimey texture and (was) soft and sweet in the mouth.

"The recycled water was very closed, very clean, it was quite neutral but a bit drying."

She said, however, she would prefer not to include recycled effluent in mains water supply because of the thought of where it came from.

National Water Commission chairman Ken Matthews said a diverse portfolio of water sources was needed to ensure safe and reliable water supplies.

See - Recycled water taste test.

Sarah from Adelaide had the following comment:

Why does the government persist with taste tests? It's what you can't taste that should concern people - small amounts of residual chemicals in recycled water. As far as taste tests go, you can't taste the date rape drug in your drink so why would anyone think a taste test was useful.

Makes sense ...